13th August 2023. Hearts 0 Kilmarnock 0
A Sunday afternoon game at Tynecastle after the European Conference League qualifier in Rosenberg on Sunday. I watched the game in Hearts TV and thought Hearts were awful in the first half but improved in the second, a late Lawrence Shankland goal left Hearts 2-1 and every chance of winning the tie at Tynecastle next week. However todays match against Kilmarnock would not be easy with Killiecrankie having beat Rangers 1-0 at Rugby Park in their first SPL game last week. With a three o’clock kickoff I left home around two to walk down to Tynecastle. I arrived around 14.30 and scanned my season ticket for entry. This would be my first time in my new site which was slighter lower down in the Main Stand and easier for an exit given I was right in line with the exit barriers. I watched the sides warming up as I waited for the kickoff.
Hearts made some changes from the team in Rosenberg earlier in the eeek. Steven Kingsley came in at left-back for the suspended Alex Cochrane while Peter Haring replaced Beni Baningime and Kyosuke Tagawa came in for Alan Forrest. O the bench Hearts included new signing Kenneth Vargas on loan from from Costa Rican top flight side Herediano, with an option to purchase outright. The loan option is probably wise as he is only 21 and may struggle to settle in Scottish football. Kilmarnock Derek McInnes named an unchanged starting XI from the side that defeated Rangers in the opening league fixture, with a settled defence securing a second clean sheet in as many games.
hearts had nearly chance when Alex Lowry’s free-kick was met by Peter Haring whose headed effort was pushed away by Will Dennis, prior to the flag being raised for offsideLewis Mayo ended the next promising Hearts attack through a strong sliding challenge on the byline, before Killie carved opportunities of their own. At the Gorgie Road end, Robbie Deas was first to find the target for the visitors as he rose highest to direct a header goalward and into the arms of Zander Clark. Killie continued to push on in the opening half-hour as the Jambos were forced back towards their own box. Solid defending stopped a two-on-one Killie attack led by Brad Lyons, moments before Matty Kennedy burst through the midfield and saw his strike deflected out for a corner.It was end-to-end in the final five before the interval. A Hearts corner was glanced just wide of the far corner, which was quickly followed by Matty Kennedy’s shot from the edge of the box being tipped around the post. Kyle Magennis forced the best save of the game on the 45-minute mark when his header called Clark into a full-stretch stop as he pushed away a ball directed towards his bottom corner.
Kennedy was first to have a pop at goal in the second half, forcing a comfortable save from the Hearts goalie moments after the restart. His opposing number one, Will Dennis, was largely untroubled throughout the 90 minutes, but confidently dealt with the first of a few high-balls lofted into his box in the second period. Chances were scarce approaching the final 25 minutes, enticing Stuart Findlay into an ambitious 30-yard strike which appeared to be heading for the top corner but fizzed just past the post.Vague glimpses of goal appeared in the last quarter of an hour. Lewis Mayo connected with a ball diverted to the back post, sending his effort back across the face of goal. Kennedy also had a powerful strike blocked by bodies inside the box.Hearts dictated possession in the final stage, with Lawrence Shankland and Kenneth Vargas going closest for the Edinburgh club. However to be honest despite be at home
Heearts were not creating chances despite using all their substitutes.
To be honest the was an awful game with Hearts despite having most of the possession having only on shot on target during the match. I walked home disappointed in the Hearts performance in what could have been a comfortable victory for the home side.
Kilmarnock: Dennis, Ndaba, Mayo, Deas, Lyons, Kennedy, Armstrong, Watson, Magennis, Findlay, Watkins.
Subs: Vassell, McKenzie, Donnelly.
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